How To Reduce Your Home’s Carbon Footprint And Save The Environment

If you want to reduce your carbon footprint, there are a few improvements you can make around your home that will help you accomplish this goal. Not only will reducing your carbon footprint be helpful for the environment, you may also be able to cut a lot of your utility costs.

Install Solar Panels

When you install solar panels, you will be able to get your power directly from the sun. Solar energy cuts back on the amount of coal and oil needed to produce electrical power, and switching to solar energy can help reduce the build-up of greenhouse gas. Although the initial investment to have these panels installed may be expensive, you will save a lot of money on your utility costs in the long run.

Insulate Your Home

You can save a lot of energy by simply having your home insulated properly. Keeping your home well-insulated will prevent the energy used for heating or cooling from escaping your home’s interior and being wasted. Reliable insulation material should be installed around your doors, windows and roof for the best results.

Harvest Rainwater

When you harvest rainwater, you will no longer have to rely on getting your water from local reservoirs. This can help your community save water and also reduce the energy and resources needed to pump water into your home. Installing a rainwater harvesting system will make it possible for you to have your own personal supply of water every time it rains.

Purchase Energy-Efficient Home Appliances

Some leading manufacturers produce specially designed appliances that are made to use less energy. Energy-efficient refrigerators, freezers and dishwashers can still perform up to standard while helping you save money and the environment. Energy-efficient clothes washers and dryers, air purifiers and dehumidifiers are other useful appliances you can purchase.

Maintain Your Heating and Cooling Equipment

One of the smartest ways to reduce your carbon footprint and energy costs is to make sure your heating and cooling equipment is well-maintained regularly. Dirty air filters should be changed so that your equipment runs more efficiently. You should also make sure your thermostat is programmed the right ways so that it doesn’t waste energy.

Get Some Smart Power Strips

These types of power strips are made to shut off automatically when the electronic devices plugged into them are not currently in use. Certain power strips can cut your utility costs by up to 10 percent. Most other power strips on the market use electricity the entire time they are plugged in, and this results in a lot of unnecessary energy consumption.

Install CFL Light Bulbs

Compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) can be used in place of standard incandescent bulbs to save energy and money. CFL bulbs have been shown to use 75 percent less energy than their incandescent counterparts and are also made to last much longer. Plus, CFL bulbs do not contain mercury, which can be harmful to humans and the environment.

Recycle Every Type of Material Possible

You already know the importance of recycling aluminium cans, plastic containers and cardboard, but there are other types of products that can be recycled so that they do not end up in landfills. Wine corks, crayons and batteries that contain recyclable metal are just a few of the items you may have not known were recyclable. Even latex paint can be recycled. In addition to reducing waste, recycling all your materials will limit the resources needed to produce brand-new products.

Reducing your carbon footprint around your home is easy and can be beneficial in many different ways. Not only will reducing your carbon footprint be beneficial for today’s society, it will also help preserve the planet for future generations.

Article Courtesy : Bill Gordon

Bill Gordon is a freelance writer who likes writing articles that cover family, travel and environment related topics. He has written numerous articles and contributed to several other blogs. When he is not writing, he enjoys spending time with his wife and riding bikes.